1. Utkal Diwas, celebrated on April 1, is the foundation day of which Indian state?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Odisha
[C] West Bengal
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Odisha celebrates the 86th foundation day of the state on April 1, known as ‘Utkal Divas’. It is on the same day that the state became independent in the year 1936.
Utkal Divas, also known as Odisha Day and Utkala Dibasa, commemorates the struggle which gained a separate identity for the state.
2. Which institution releases the ‘State of World Population Report’?
[A] UNICEF
[B] UNFPA
[C] IMF
[D] World Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UNFPA]
Notes:
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently released the ‘State of World Population: Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy’ Report.
As per the report, nearly half of all pregnancies, totalling 121 million each year throughout the world, are unintended. Globally, an estimated 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and modern methods of contraception.
3. What is the theme of the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) 2022?
[A] Inclusion in the Workplace
[B] Quality Education for All
[C] Leaving No one Behind
[D] Disorder, Not a Disease
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Inclusion in the Workplace]
Notes:
World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) aims to create awareness about the obstacles that people with autism face every day. Each year, World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated on April 2 globally to spread awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
It is a neuro-developmental disorder that distorts the communication and social interaction skills of a person. This year, the theme of World Autism Awareness Day is ‘Inclusion in the Workplace’.
4. Which is the first Indian city to get processed Steel Slag Road?
[A] Varanasi
[B] Surat
[C] Patna
[D] Gandhi Nagar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Surat]
Notes:
Gujarat’s Surat has become the first city in the country to get a processed steel slag (industrial waste) road.
It has been built as part of a joint-venture project by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Union Ministry of Steel, NITI Aayog, and Arcelor-Mitttal-Nippon Steel. The slag is generated from a steel furnace in the form of molten flux material as an impurity.
5. Which Union Ministry is associated with the Foreign Trade Policy of India?
[A] Ministry of External Affairs
[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industries
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Commerce and Industries]
Notes:
Directorate General of Foreign Trade, under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries is responsible for the Foreign Trade Policy (DGFT) of India.
Recently, the DGFT announced that the existing Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, which is valid upto March 31, 2022 is extended up to September 30, 2022. After the outbreak of Covid-19, the policy was first extended by a year to the end of March 2020.
6. Which Indian state signed a pact with WWF India to develop State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SBSAP)?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Assam
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
Arunachal Pradesh signed a pact with WWF India to develop the State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SBSAP).
The SBSAP will be aligned with the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and Pakke Declaration. The state cabinet adopted the ‘Pakke Tiger Reserve 2047 Declaration on Climate Change Resilient and Responsive Arunachal Pradesh’, last year.
7. Which state implements the ‘Mukhya Mantri Bagwani Bima Yojana’?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Haryana
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Haryana]
Notes:
Haryana Agriculture Minister launched the portal of ‘Mukhya Mantri Bagwani Bima Yojana.’ Under this scheme, farmers will be compensated for the damage caused to their crops due to natural calamities.
21 crops including 14 vegetables, 2 spices and five fruits are covered under this scheme. As per the agriculture department, Rs 10 crore will be kept by the state government as initial capital for the scheme.
8. Who has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary of India?
[A] Vinay Mohan Kwatra
[B] Rudrendra Tandon
[C] Dinesh Bhatia
[D] Santosh Jha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Vinay Mohan Kwatra]
Notes:
The Indian government appointed senior Indian Foreign Service officer Vinay Mohan Kwatra as the new Foreign Secretary.
The 1988-batch IFS officer is currently serving as Ambassador in Kathmandu since January 2020. He worked in Prime Minister’s Office from 2015 to 2017 and had served as India’s ambassador to France. Vinay Kwatra will replace the incumbent Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
9. ‘Salwa Judum movement’ was associated with which Indian state?
[A] Punjab
[B] Chhattisgarh
[C] Jharkhand
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chhattisgarh]
Notes:
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced that a plan is being developed to rehabilitate those people who migrated to neighbouring states during the Salwa Judum movement around 15 years ago.
Salwa Judum, an anti-Naxal operation powered by vigilante groups, was kicked off in 2005-06 in Bastar. It forced several tribals to flee and settle in neighbouring states.
10. Which state-run company has partnered with L&T and ReNew Power, for a joint venture for Green hydrogen?
[A] ONGC
[B] IOC
[C] REC
[D] GAIL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IOC]
Notes:
State-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and ReNew Power have announced a joint venture (JV) company to develop the green hydrogen sector in India.
India plans to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. In February, the Centre launched the country’s first green hydrogen policy as part of its energy transition plan.